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Kansas City Royals

Immaculate Man

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – Roman Anthony’s two-out RBI single in the seventh inning snapped a 1-1 tie, lifting the Boston Red Sox to a 4-1 win over the visiting Kansas City Royals in the rain-delayed rubber game of their series on Sunday.

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The Red Sox (82-68) took a 1-0 lead on Caleb Durbin’s solo homer in the second inning before scoring three runs over their final two at-bats.

Willson Contreras, who missed the previous 12 games with a left hamstring strain, and Trevor Story each had two hits. Story had a two-RBI single in the eighth.

Payton Tolle struck out seven and allowed just four hits and one walk over six shutout innings, including an immaculate first. (An immaculate inning is one where the pitcher strikes out three batters with a total of nine pitches). Garrett Whitlock (7-1) was credited with the win in relief while Aroldis Chapman brushed off two walks of his own to strike out the side for his 34th save.

Tolle generated seven swings and misses en route to his immaculate inning, punctuating it with a 98 mph fastball to retire Jac Caglianone swinging. He became only the eighth Red Sox pitcher in franchise history to post the feat and the first since Chris Sale in 2021.

The left-hander struck out each of the first four batters he faced before a one-out infield single to Michael Massey in the second.

Kansas City (66-84) was limited to just five hits, though Noah Cameron tossed one-run ball across six innings.

After Red Sox reliever Erik Miller’s back-to-back walks led to Kansas City’s game-tying run on a Carter Jensen RBI single in the top of the seventh, Craig Kimbrel (1-5) issued one-out free passes to Durbin and Nick Sogard, and Anthony’s line-drive knock into right-center field off Connor Thomas followed two batters later.

In the eighth, the Red Sox tagged Nate Pearson for three straight one-out hits to add insurance to their lead. Story drove home Contreras and Adley Rutschman, who singled and doubled, respectively.

An inning after Cameron got out of a two-on, two-out jam in the first, Durbin vaulted the Red Sox into the lead with a blast into the Green Monster seats in left-center field.

Massey’s knock was Kansas City’s lone hit until the fifth, when Tolle stranded Luke Maile and Tyler Tolbert following back-to-back singles with two outs. In the sixth, Tolle allowed a leadoff single to Bobby Witt Jr. and hit Caglianone before two inning-ending strikeouts kept Boston in front.

The Royals finally broke through in the seventh. After Isaac Collins — who drew the first of back-to-back walks from Miller — was out on a force play at third, Jensen grounded a pinch-hit single past diving first baseman Contreras to plate pinch runner John Rave with the tying run. Whitlock escaped that jam with back-to-back outs thereafter.

–Field Level Media

Suarez Tosses a Gem vs. KC

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FENWAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Ranger Suarez tossed his second straight seven-inning start and the Red Sox scored in their final three at-bats en route to a 5-1 win over the visiting Kansas City Royals on Saturday afternoon in Boston.

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Suarez (7-4) struck out eight, scattered five hits and allowed one run while completing his seven frames in 96 pitches as Boston (81-68) snapped its three-game losing streak.

Roman Anthony, Adley Rutschman and Nick Sogard each had multiple hits while Wilyer Abreu hit a two-run double that gave the Red Sox a sixth-inning lead they would not relinquish.

Carter Jensen’s 24th home run of the season marked the only scoring for Kansas City (66-83), which opened the series with a win Friday.

The Red Sox took the lead with two runs on three straight hits in the sixth. After Mickey Gasper and Rutschman knocked back-to-back singles to right to chase Royals starter Randy Dobnak (3-4), Abreu drove them home with a two-out double to deep center off reliever Anthony Gose.

The lead grew in each of the next two frames, beginning with Sogard hitting a leadoff double and scoring on Caleb Durbin’s RBI single off the Green Monster in the seventh.

After Garrett Whitlock struck out the side in the Royals’ eighth, Trevor Story and Sogard posted back-to-back doubles to plate another run.

Aroldis Chapman followed with a scoreless ninth to tab Suarez with the victory.

The teams plowed through three scoreless innings with just one baserunner: Bobby Witt Jr.’s one-out single in Kansas City’s opening frame. Suarez stranded him on third after recording back-to-back outs, including an inning-ending strikeout of Vinnie Pasquantino.

Suarez retired the Royals 1-2-3 on 10 pitches in the second and third innings while Dobnak faced the minimum, striking out three batters through the first third of the game.

In the fourth, Anthony turned a leadoff single through the right side into the opening run. After moving to second on Gasper’s grounder, Anthony scored when Rutschman knocked a single into center.

After finishing the fourth around Pasquantino’s two-out double, Suarez retired five straight before Jensen’s one-out solo homer inside Pesky’s Pole in the sixth. The southpaw stranded runners in the next two frames, including back-to-back strikeouts to cap the seventh.

–Field Level Media

Royals Take First of Three vs. Sox

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – Kansas City scored three runs over the first three innings and let its pitching do the rest as the Royals held on to beat the host Boston Red Sox 3-2 in their three-game series opener on Friday night.

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Carter Jensen (two doubles) and Salvador Perez each went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Royals (66-82), who were just 3-7 in their previous 10 games.

Seth Lugo (7-8) scattered seven hits and struck out seven across five innings of two-run ball for the victory. Steven Cruz finished off his seventh save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Mickey Gasper hit his ninth homer of the season and Wilyer Abreu went 2-for-4 with an RBI double for the Red Sox (80-68), who were held to just one hit over the final four innings. They have lost three straight since a five-game winning streak.

The Royals jumped ahead with a pair of first-inning hits off Sonny Gray (17-5), who went six frames. After Jensen crushed a leadoff double off the wall in deep center field, Perez knocked a two-out RBI single inside the third base line to open the scoring.

After Gray responded with a 1-2-3 second, Isaac Collins and Jensen started the third with back-to-back doubles, extending Kansas City’s lead to 2-0. Jensen’s wall-ball double high off the Green Monster brought in the run. Two batters later, Vinnie Pasquantino’s single through the right side made it a three-run game before a double play ended the inning.

After Adley Rutschman walked immediately following the homer, Wilyer Abreu’s RBI double high off the Monster brought the hosts within 3-2. Lugo stopped the threat there, striking out back-to-back batters.

Nolan Hoffman and Connor Thomas relieved Lugo with back-to-back 1-2-3 innings, and Nate Pearson stranded Trevor Story on second base following a one-out double in the eighth. Story eluded second baseman Michael Massey’s tag to reach safely.

The Royals had a chance to extend their lead after Perez and Massey started the eighth with back-to-back singles, with Rutschman catching pinch runner Tyler Tolbert stealing second in between. Jovani Moran stranded two to end the inning before striking out two in the ninth.

–Field Level Media

Rested, Sox Face Royal Challenge

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Following back-to-back losses to the Los Angeles Angels and a much-needed day off from their American League playoff race, the Boston Red Sox look to right the ship with Sonny Gray on the mound in their three-game series opener against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

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Boston (80-67) won five straight to reach a season-high 15 games above .500 before dropping the series to the lowly Angels, concluding a stretch of 14 games in 13 days with a 6-4 loss in Wednesday’s rubber game.

“We talked about two other gauntlets, with this being the last one where you can finally reach the three off-days over the next 10 days,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said. “It’s helpful from the standpoint of rest for everybody that’s active and also for the guys we’re trying to get back.”

The Red Sox allowed six runs and double-digit hits in their last two losses and seven of their last 12 games. Outfielders Ceddanne Rafaela and Eli White and catcher Adley Rutschman have been sidelined in recent days, while others are on the way back from injury.

Roman Anthony and Wilyer Abreu homered to highlight Wednesday’s game for Boston, but three home runs off starter Jake Bennett helped Los Angeles build a 6-0 lead that was too much to overcome.

Anthony’s two-run shot was his third since returning from injury on Aug. 30. Abreu is tied for the American League lead with 13 since the All-Star break.

“I’m very proud of myself for what I’ve been doing,” Abreu said. “Hopefully I can hit a couple more before the season ends.”

Gray (17-4, 2.69 ERA) has pitched scoreless ball in three of his last six starts, including seven innings of three-hit ball last Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.

Gray defeated the Royals on May 18 — striking out nine and allowing one run over six innings — to improve to 10-2 with a 1.74 ERA in his career against them. The Red Sox swept that three-game set in Kansas City.

The Royals (65-82) are just 3-7 in their last 10 games, but they bounced back from a pair of extra-inning losses for a 5-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, avoiding their 11th series sweep this season.

Bobby Witt Jr. hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the fifth inning to provide the winning runs. Before going deep twice on Kansas City’s recent nine-game home stand, the three-time All-Star was homerless in 50 straight at-bats.

“Three-pointers are nice,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “I know he’s felt like he’s left some runs out there, and he feels a lot of responsibility for that. That was a huge swing of the bat for him and for us.”

“Hunt the pitches and be able to do damage on the ones you’re looking for. And not miss them,” Witt added. “Take it one pitch at a time, and once you get those pitches, be able to capitalize on them.”

Carter Jensen hit his 23rd homer, tying Jac Caglianone for the team lead and marking the second-most ever by a Royals rookie. The catcher is on a 14-game on-base streak, and each of his last nine hits have gone for extra bases.

Seth Lugo (6-8, 5.04) gets the ball on Friday in search of his first win in his fifth career start against the Red Sox. He is 0-5 with a 5.61 ERA in seven head-to-head appearances, but allowed just two runs over six innings in his May 18 clash with Gray.

Lugo has allowed 12 runs on 17 hits over his last two starts (8 2/3 innings), though his five-inning appearance Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays was his eighth out of the last 10 without allowing a homer.

–Field Level Media

Can Suarez Push Sox Winning Ways?

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KANSAS CITY – (Wire Service Report) – Ranger Suarez has been dominant on the mound of late, but he needs some run support from his Boston Red Sox teammates. Having not allowed a run in three straight starts, Suarez will aim to help the Red Sox to a second consecutive victory and a road-series win over the struggling Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

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Suarez (2-2, 2.44 ERA) has allowed eight hits and three walks and struck out 21 over 17 1/3 scoreless innings of his past three starts. The left-hander last yielded a run in the third inning of Boston’s 4-1 home loss to the New York Yankees on April 22 — a string of 19 consecutive scoreless frames overall.

“(It’s a good feeling) when you’re able to command all your pitches and throw (them) for strikes, and be able throw it how you want it,” said Suarez, who has a win and two no-decisions over his past three games.

“I think I felt very good (in) the last three starts.”

On Thursday against his former team, the Philadelphia Phillies, Suarez allowed four hits and a walk and struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings. However, the Red Sox fell 3-1 and have failed to score a run with Suarez on the mound in his past two starts.

In five of Suarez’s eight 2026 starts, his Boston teammates did not give him a run of support.

The Red Sox managed just three runs in the series opener on Monday, but it was enough for a 3-1 victory over the Royals. Willson Contreras hit a two-run homer for Boston, which has failed to score more than three times in any contest during its current 4-5 stretch.

“Whenever you can get the win, it’s great,” Boston catcher Connor Wong told Boston’s flagship radio.

Contreras is 4-for-11 with two home runs and four RBIs in the past three games. He’s batting .296 with five homers and 21 RBIs in 21 games vs. Kansas City.

The Royals got a pair of doubles from Jac Caglianone, the second of which drove home the club’s lone run of the night in the seventh inning Monday. Caglianone is 5-for-10 in the last three games for Kansas City, which has averaged 3.3 runs during its current 3-9 rut.

“Every night you play, it’s an opportunity to win a game. There’s always that sense of urgency,” Kansas City general manager J.J. Picollo said.

After the Royals announced that scheduled Tuesday starter Kris Bubic was placed on the injured list with elbow soreness, they’ll look at a bullpen game for this contest. Bailey Falter (0-0, 10.13 ERA), a longtime starter turned reliever, is expected to pitch first.

“We’ll certainly need somebody to step up (Tuesday),” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “You need depth, you need quality depth, and you need guys that are versatile. We think we have that.”

Falter, a left-hander, has made three career appearances (two starts) against Boston, going 1-2 with an 11.17 ERA.

Suarez has one career start against the Royals — on Aug. 24, 2024, in Kansas City. He allowed one run, four hits and a walk and struck out six over five innings in an 11-2 win for Philadelphia.

For Kansas City, Kyle Isbel is batting .304 during a six-game hitting streak.

–Field Level Media

 

Red Sox Hope to Regroup

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KANSAS CITY – (Wire Service Report) – While the Boston Red Sox continue to struggle, they have played well with Sonny Gray on the mound this season. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Royals haven’t enjoyed much success of late when Seth Lugo has pitched.

With those veterans squaring off, these last-place teams will open a three-game set at Kansas City tonight.

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Sitting at the bottom of American League East, Boston is 3-6 while dropping three consecutive series. The Red Sox have just 14 runs over the last eight games and — although they had nine hits on Sunday — they stranded nine runners during an 8-1 loss to Atlanta.

“It’s tough,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “Flipside, there’s no consolation prizes here. We’ve got to win games. We are actually having better at-bats, but we’ve got to find a way to get runs.”

The Red Sox have 19 victories this season, with five coming among the seven starts made by Gray (4-1, 3.18 ERA). They’ve won the last three games started by the right-hander, who has yielded one run, six hits and three walks over 11 innings to win his two starts since coming off the injury list from a strained hamstring. Games

“You feel very confident with the guys that we have behind us. They’re elite,” Gray said of his teammates.

That run came via a solo homer Wednesday against Philadelphia, when Gray allowed one other hit, a walk and struck out six over six innings of Boston’s 3-1 home victory.

Though Gray has not faced the Royals since 2023, he’s 9-2 with a 1.76 ERA in 13 career starts against them.

Kansas City, which shares the basement in the AL Central with Detroit, snapped its six-game losing streak Sunday with a 2-0 win at St. Louis. Salvador Perez hit a solo homer and drove in both runs, while Stephen Kolek pitched 6 1/3 strong innings.

“Just try to forget how we played the last (few) days,” Perez told Royals.TV. “This group, we turn the page quick.”

Though Perez came up big Sunday, he’s 6-for-34 all time against Gray.

Seth Lugo (1-3, 3.76 ERA), Monday’s scheduled starter for Kansas City, allowed just five runs — four earned — and 19 hits over 31 1/3 innings of his first five starts this season. In four outings since, however, the right-hander has yielded 18 runs and a whopping 37 hits over 21 1/3 frames.

Five of those runs and eight hits were surrendered through five innings Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox, as Lugo dropped his second straight game. He did record his 1,000th career strikeout in that contest.

“(The milestone) means a lot, but that’s not my goal right now,” said Lugo, 36. “The goal is winning. That’s where my priorities are.”

A winning decision is not something Lugo has experienced against the Red Sox, going 0-3 with a 6.61 ERA in three starts — all with Kansas City.

Boston’s Jarren Duran and Willson Contreras each have three hits in the last two games. Those two, along with teammate Wilyer Abreu, who is batting .300 this season, are a combined 9-for-24 against Lugo.

–Field Level Media

Big Innings Fuel Red Sox

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) The Boston Red Sox will attempt to extend their winning streak to seven games when they face the visiting Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.

Boston opened the three-game series with an 8-5 victory on Monday. The Red Sox scored five runs in the first inning after scoring six times in the fourth of a 6-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

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“We’re not chasing as much, we’re not striking out,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “We’re putting the ball in play. We’re running the bases extremely well, too. … We’ve been really good the past three weeks baserunning-wise, and that puts pressure on the opposition.”

Boston particularly has been tough at home. The Monday victory gave the Red Sox 13 wins in their past 14 games at Fenway Park.

“When we’re rolling, this place is another weapon for us, so it’s just been awesome to see the fans get behind us and help us with this push,” said Boston’s Jarren Duran, who hit a three-run homer in the first inning off Royals starter Bailey Falter.

“I think we just have to keep our heads down and keep working, because I feel like that’s what we’ve been doing all year and it’s showing.”

After Kansas City scored four runs in the eighth to make it an 8-5 game, Nick Loftin ran through his coach’s third base stop sign and was thrown out at the plate for the final out of the inning. Had Loftin stayed at third, the Royals would have had the bases loaded with Vinnie Pasquantino at the plate. Pasquantino homered earlier in the frame.

“I talked to him in the dugout,” Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said of Loftin. “You gotta understand the game situation at that point. He’s trying to be aggressive. He probably got a little carried away knowing there were two outs.

“Normally you would take chances with two outs, but when you’re down by three and you’re getting the go-ahead run to the plate right there, you gotta stay at third. It’s a mental mistake and he won’t make that again.”

Boston won’t have outfielder Roman Anthony in the lineup on Tuesday. Anthony was a late scratch Monday due to back tightness, and Cora said he planned to rest the rookie on Tuesday.

“Everything felt normal all day and I felt something as I was stretching on the line,” Anthony said. “Just figured we’d be cautious with it and was super uncomfortable. I relayed that quickly, and we decided we were going to shut it down.

“I’ll get with the training staff and figure that out, but I’m already definitely trending in the right direction and feeling better than it was earlier.”

The Red Sox appear to be in a good position to build on their winning streak since left-hander Garrett Crochet (12-4, 2.23 ERA) — Boston’s ace — is scheduled to start on Tuesday.

Crochet is 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA in eight career appearances (two starts) against the Royals. He won at Kansas City on May 10 after throwing seven innings of one-run ball and striking out nine.

Rookie right-hander Ryan Bergert (1-0, 2.78) is scheduled to make his Royals debut. Bergert, who was acquired from the San Diego Padres just before the trade deadline last week, will be making his first career appearance against Boston.

Bergert made 11 appearances (seven starts) for the Padres this season, and he recorded 34 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

 

Sox Ready for Royal Treatment

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox will have plenty of momentum and a rested bullpen when they open their three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals tonight at Fenway Park.

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Boston completed a three-game sweep by beating the visiting Houston Astros 6-1 on Sunday, running its winning streak to five games. The Red Sox have registered seven victories in their past eight games overall.

“I feel like we’re kind of figuring out our identity a little bit,” Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder said. “Guys are settling into their roles. The trade deadline has passed and it’s go time.”

Center fielder/second baseman Ceddanne Rafaela added: “Our mindset is not only on the Yankees, it’s just playing good baseball and trying to win the division.”

Boston has won its past five home games. The Red Sox are 12-1 in their last 13 home contests, and they own a 37-21 record at Fenway Park this season, the third-highest home win total in the majors.

“We’re much better than the last two years,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “We’re healthier. … We have a complete team. Guys are playing with an edge now. You can tell. Like I said, this place (Fenway Park) — it’s fun. It’s fun again.

“We just have to continue. Kansas City is playing good baseball. We have to show up (Monday) and try to win a game.”

Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito pitched a season-high eight innings and limited Houston to one run on three hits during the Sunday win.

“Between him and (Brayan) Bello, they’re doing an outstanding job,” Cora said. “So we have capable guys who can go out there and compete. … We trust our guys. All of them — Bello, Gio and obviously (Garrett) Crochet has been amazing the last two months.”

Bello (7-5, 3.19 ERA) is Boston’s scheduled starter for Monday. He is 1-0 with a 3.57 ERA in 17 2/3 innings over three career games (all starts) against the Royals.

Left-hander Bailey Falter (7-5, 3.73 ERA) is expected to make his Kansas City debut as the Monday starter. Falter, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates before the Thursday trade deadline, is 1-1 with a 7.94 ERA in two games (one start) in his career against Boston. He has seven strikeouts and one walk in 5 2/3 innings against the Red Sox.

Kansas City also acquired rookie right-hander Ryan Bergert from the San Diego Padres on Thursday. He is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday in Boston.

“(The) message to those guys is, ‘Look, your job is to help us … give us the best chance to win,’” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “‘Go out there and compete your butt off for as much as you can.’”

Like Boston, Kansas City has been playing winning baseball lately. The Royals came from behind to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 in 10 innings on Sunday. Kansas City trailed 2-1 before tying the game in the eighth and then scoring five runs in the 10th.

The victory gave Kansas City two wins in the three-game series at Toronto. The Royals have won four of their past five games and each of their past four series.

The Royals will not have Steven Cruz available in the near future. The right-handed reliever, who left the Saturday game against the Blue Jays after feeling discomfort in his right shoulder, was placed on the 15-day injured list before the Sunday contest. Cruz has a 3.61 ERA in 42 1/3 innings (43 games) this season.

–Field Level Media

Sox Take Series vs Royals

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KANSAS CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Wilyer Abreu homered and singled twice to help the visiting Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 win against the Kansas City Royals in the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday.

Rafael Devers homered, singled and drove in the other two runs for the Red Sox, who have won four of five.

Lucas Giolito (1-1) made his third start of the season for Boston and allowed one unearned run and two hits over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Justin Wilson and Greg Weissert combined for 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief before Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his sixth save.

Royals starter Seth Lugo (3-4) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.

Kansas City had won seven of eight and 10 of 12.

Giolito retired the first six batters before Drew Waters singled up the middle to lead off the third. Luke Maile then walked, bringing up No. 9 hitter Kyle Isbel, who laid down a bunt but Giolito’s throw to third got away, allowing Waters to score for 1-0 lead.

The Royals had runners at first and second with one out later in the inning, but Giolito struck out Bobby Witt Jr. before getting Vinnie Pasquantino to ground out to end the inning.

Abreu pulled a hanging curveball over the bullpen in right field for a 430-foot solo homer in the fourth, tying the score 1-1.

Lugo gave up a one-out single to Jarren Duran in the sixth. Devers then lifted the next pitch over the fence in center for a 440-foot two-run homer, giving Boston a 3-1 lead.

Steven Cruz pitched the seventh for the Royals, his 18th consecutive scoreless appearance over the past two seasons.

Daniel Lynch IV started the eighth for Kansas City and gave up a leadoff double down the third base line to Carlos Narvaez, who then moved to third on a sacrice bunt.

Lynch bounced back to strike out Duran before Devers was walked intentionally. John Schreiber then came in and struck out Bregman to end the threat.

Yankees Survive and Advance

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KANSAS CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New York starting pitcher Gerrit Cole threw seven effective innings, and Gleyber Torres, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton each supplied key hits Thursday night to lead the Yankees to a 3-1 victory against the Kansas City Royals in a decisive Game 4 of the American League Division Series.

After failing to reach the postseason a year ago but with the win, the Yankees advanced to the American League Championship Series for the second time in three seasons and for the fourth time since 2017. New York won’t learn of its opponent in the ALCS until Saturday, when the Cleveland Guardians are scheduled to host the Detroit Tigers for Game 5 of that ALDS. The Guardians extended their series with a 5-4 victory against the Tigers on Thursday.

The Royals, coming off a 56-106 record in 2023, advanced beyond the wild-card round under manager Matt Quatraro in their first postseason trip since 2015, when they won their franchise’s second World Series. Star shortstop Bobby Witt went 2-for-17 (.118) with a walk in the series.

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who came in struggling in the postseason after making himself the favorite to win AL MVP in the regular season, hit a hard double in two at-bats, scored a run, walked twice and stole a base.

Benches and bullpens cleared briefly in the bottom of the sixth inning following a slide into second by the Royals’ Maikel Garcia and Anthony Volpe’s tag for a key double play.

After grinding to a no-decision in the series opener, Cole (1-0) allowed a run and six hits to go with four strikeouts. He kept the Royals off the scoreboard through five innings and pitched out of a jam in the sixth.

New York’s bullpen continued to dominate with Clay Holmes taking the eighth and Luke Weaver finishing in the ninth for his third save of the series. Yankees relievers combined to allow zero runs in 15 2/3 innings in the series.

The Yankees scored quickly against right-hander Michael Wacha who, like Cole, also started Game 1. Three pitches into the first inning, Soto lined an RBI single to right, scoring Torres after he had doubled, to give New York a 1-0 lead.

Wacha (0-1) kept the Yankees from adding more until two outs in the fifth, when Torres lined an RBI single to right, knocking in Alex Verdugo from third. Lucas Erceg then replaced Wacha to put out the rally.

Stanton, who hit the go-ahead home run late in Game 3, came through again with an RBI single in the sixth for 3-0 lead.

The Royals pushed across a run in the sixth when Vinnie Pasquantino hit an RBI double to score Witt with two outs, but strong Yankees defense thwarted KC’s best chance for a bigger inning.

After Garcia led off with a single, first baseman Jon Berti and Volpe turned a Michael Massey grounder into a neat 1-6 double play. Garcia slid hard and Volpe made a dedicated tag for a second out, but Garcia didn’t leave the field immediately. He appeared to jaw with a third Yankees player, which led to a stoppage before heads cooled.

After Pasquantino’s RBI, Salvador Perez popped out to end the inning.

–David Brown, Field Level Media